Auto manufacturers have long been boasting that their vehicles are “clean and green”. These cars, they say, use clean-burning engines, electric motors, and the like. Then there are those that claim their ride contains so much recyclable material that you need not worry about it filling up a junkyard at the end of its lifespan.
While these claims are all well and good, nothing seems as earth-friendly as this design study from a group of students from the Netherlands. Lina, as the car is called, is a concept car created by a group of students from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. What makes this car special is that it is made mostly from plants and veggies. Plus, it runs on electricity.
Yes, you read that right: it is made from plants and vegetables (well, most of it, anyway). The body, chassis, and cabin, for instance, come from a fiberglass-like, bio-based composite. The structure is strengthened by a plant called flax, while sugar beets form a bio-plastic honeycomb core placed between the composite materials.
Apart from these main components, the rest of the car is made from traditional materials like steel, aluminum, rubber, and the like. Lina will be motivated by an electric motor made up of modular battery packs and two electric mills. It can reach speeds of up to 90kph.
While it may seem like a cool idea to ride in something that’s politically and environmentally correct, the sad reality is that such materials might not pass stringent crash test regulations. The structure may easily give way, while the crumple zones may actually disintegrate upon impact.
Still, such an effort shows that we can create truly clean vehicles. A bit more work should be in order to come up with cars that are safe and friendly to the environment. And with this car, you can now tell Mom that you aren’t just eating your vegetables; you’re riding them, too.
